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Monday, October 02, 2006

Scariest song ever?

For all those in need of a break from the party conferences... there's a really good thread developing over on The Observer blog in response to a request for nominations for the scariest song ever.

As the illustration suggests, my vote has gone to Pink Floyd's Another Brick in the Wall Part Two, largely on account of the Gerald Scarfe video portraying a teacher putting his pupils through a mincer and an endless procession of hammers marching in unison. It may seem a bit tame now, but at the time it came out it was truly shocking, although the fact that it was scary didn't stop it being a great piece of music.

I have been amazed by the number of nominations for such 70s ephemera as Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep, Seasons in the Sun, Two Little Boys, Billy Don't be a Hero and even Puff the Magic Dragon. Were these songs really scary as opposed to just sad?

Anyway, for anyone with more than a passing interest in music, the full thread is well worth a read. Hat Tip: David Gladwin.

1 comment:

I was thinking of having a go at this one, but you've saved me the trouble... An ex of mine would burst into tears if she heard Puff. Yes, really.

I don't think there is anything as bone chilling as Lou Reed's 'The Kids' from 'Berlin'. A lot of people named the crying children as a reason why, but no-one seemed to mention that producer Bob Ezrin told his own children that their mother had died and then recorded their reaction and incorporated it in the album. I am not making this up.

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